Area residents revelled Tuesday in 70° warmth. O’Hare’s official 71° high marked the 18th time this year that daytime readings have reached or exceeded 70°. But, even warmer temps are ahead Wednesday. And, the easterly winds of recent days have shifted SSE Wednesday, essentially paralleling the Lake Michigan shoreline. It’s a set-up which sends lake-chilled air into only the most eastern sections of Cook and Lake Counties.
A bit of convergence between the lake-cooled air and the warmer air inland—a process which produces heating through compression—may be enough to produce isolated 80° readings at the warmest inland locations.
The Plains broiled in 90° heat Tuesday. McCook, Neb. recorded 93° as did Garden City, Kansas. Powerful t-storms erupted in the late day heat bombarding Sutherland, Neb. with golf ball size hail. 60 m.p.h. gusts whipped Purdum, Neb. tearing shingles off roofs.
-Tom Skilling
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
